Ashedlii

The big tent.

"Most people just don't understand when we talk about tents. In most places on Breharan, there is only one kind of tent. That idea is wild to me. We have many tents. Small tents, like a tarp, for one person who watches the goats. Tents for a family to sleep with wooden supports. We have a tent for cooking and a tent for storing our things. We have one for bathing and one for the children. And we have the ashedlii, a big conical tent, for talking."

— Tasiir of the People of the Horse

A Place to Gather

The ashedlii - or big tent - is a structure in Orth communities. It serves as a communal meeting place where people will gather to share meals, hide from chill winds, and - most importantly - talk. Whenever people have a dispute, it is settled in the tent with others around to provide guidance. When they gather to make the decision to move on to their next spot, it is made in the big tent.

Construction

As with all Orth buildings, the ashedlii is designed to be easily assembled and disassembled for transport. It is typically made of many hides woven together and strong over a set of wooden poles. There is a hole in the top for smoke to escape when they start small fires inside and the door can be anything from a simple flap to a small entrance that juts out the side.

The tent is always covered in art depicting the history of the community. This makes each big tent unique and an important historical record - even if scholars need someone from the village to interpret the art for them.

Stub Article

This article is just a stub for now and will be expanded upon later.

Old Article

This article was written in the past and does not meet my current standards for any number of article quality, layout, or content.

In-Progress Article

This article is being worked on, perhaps not at this very moment, but it is being worked on.

History in Art

The big tent is not the only way the Orth record their history. They have a strong tradition of song and oration. Then they have the quilt that depicts the life of every member.